Located in Northwestern Illinois, near Oregon and Rockford, White Pines Inn resembles a pioneer village with 25 authentic one-room log cabins with gas fireplaces. Set among the towering pines, the cabins have beautiful hardwood floors the color of maple syrup. Each cabin has a queen, hand-hewn log bed with a double bed trundle underneath, and a private bath. There are 13 one-room cabins with open-beamed ceilings. There are 12 additional cabins built in groups of four under one roof.

Tinker Swiss Cottage is a historic house museum located in the heart of Rockford, Illinois. The museum complex contains the historic house museum, barn, and carriage house from the Tinker family. In addition, the property is the home of the founding site of Rockford and contains a Pre-Columbian Native American conical mound. Robert Tinker's inspiration for the Cottage came during his tour of Europe in 1862, where he fell in love with the architecture of Switzerland. In 1865, Robert began building his Swiss Cottage on the limestone bluff overlooking Kent Creek.Robert surrounded his Swiss Cottage with over 27 acres of trees, vines, winding pathways, flowerbeds, and gardens. A three-story Swiss inspired barn was added to the property which housed cows, chickens, and horses.

During the fall and spring semesters, Rock Valley College sponsors a Studio Theatre program, giving students and amateur actors in the area a chance to perform with guest professionals in plays such as Wings, Black Coffee, and 1940's Radio Hour. Each year the Studio Theatre presents a William Shakespeare classic. The Studio Theatre also has a new play development program with productions that have included American Rock!, Kite's Book, and Christmas With the Conroys.

The museum complex is situated on a 3-acre arboretum and includes: 1) An 1857 Italianate home built by Oscar Taylor. This home was the social center of early Freeport and may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 2) The Millerburg schoolhouse, furnished to depict rural school life circa 1920. 3) The Industry Museum which highlights the rich manufacturing heritage of Stephenson County including the Henney Company, Stover, W.T. Rawleigh and more. 4) The Arcade Toy Museum which showcases the world’s largest exhibit of Arcade cast-iron toys made in Freeport by Arcade Manufacturing as well as other toys manufactured in Freeport including Structo and Realistic. 5) An authentic 1840s log cabin homestead built by Irish immigrants. Open Wednesday thru Sunday, Noon to 4pm. Guided Tours only; last tour starts at 3pm. Group tours may be scheduled by appointment. Adults $8 Children 6 and above $4

The area's oldest outdoor summer theatre with four musical productions in June and July. Starlight's home, the Bengt Sjostrom Theatre, features more than a thousand seats, a stunningly artistic and creative retractable roof, new seating and an improved stage. Starlight Theatre has been named one of Illinois' 150 Great Places by the American Institute of Architects, Illinois Council. This prestigious award is given to places that have been identified by leading architects as contributing to their communities' quality of life.

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra has been serving Northern Illinois since 1934 and has a strong tradition of presenting classical and contemporary orchestral music of the highest caliber in Rockford's beautiful and awe-inspiring Coronado Theatre. Nationally known guest artists frequently serve as soloists for RSO concerts, adding tremendous variety and diversity to each season. In addition to a wonderful array of Classics and Pops Concerts, each season the Rockford Symphony also presents The Nutcracker in collaboration with the Rockford Dance Company.

Celebrating over 40 years of dance excellence, Rockford Dance Company serves the greater Rockford community through partnerships with other leading nonprofit organizations, year-round classes in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap as well as full season of outstanding ballet and repertoire performances. Rockford Dance Company offers programming to children, students, and adults supporting our mission to pursue excellence in the art of dance through performance, education, and outreach.

Emanuel Ax captured public attention when he won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in 1974. Later, he captured the Michael's Award of Young Concert Artists in 1975 followed by the coveted Avery Fisher Prize in 1979. Recent releases include Mendelssohn Trios with Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman, Strauss' Enoch Arden narrated by Patrick Stewart, and two-piano music by Brahms and Rachmaninoff with Yefim Bronfman.

Four productions per year in Clark Arts Center's Maddox and Cheek Theatres, performed by theater students, plus student-directed 3-Penny Theater productions, the Rockford College Forum Series, and Common Destines programs.

Rockford Art Museum has been enriching the quality of life in the Rockford Region since 1913 through a permanent collection, frequent exhibitions and lifelong education. More than 1,900 works focus on modern and contemporary art, photography, outsider art, contemporary glass, and regional art with an emphasis on Illinois artists. Its critically acclaimed Spiezer Collection is the most significant collection of Chicago art, inside or outside the city. The museum store is a sure bet for finding Rockford-made gifts by local artists. RAM also offers an outdoor sculpture garden and plenty of free parking. The annual Greenwich Village Art Fair is held rain or shine on the second weekend after Labor Day – it’s the longest-running art fair of its kind in the Midwest.

Along the banks of the mighty Richland Creek, the first settlers founded the Village of Orangeville in 1851. Over the years, the town has always been a special place "where the women are fair, the men are strong and there's a story to be told around every corner." In the Mighty Richland Players Dessert Theater, those fair and strong will treat attendees to a great dessert and a humorous story with a smile and a wink. Performances are at the Mighty Richland Players Theater, an 1877 Italianate Victorian building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Theater season is March through September .

The museum campus consists of a Victorian village with 26 historical buildings filled with artifacts of the era as well as several beautiful 19th century gardens that depict life in northern Illinois from 1890 to 1910. Interpreters in authentic period dress are available seasonally for guided tours. The main museum building holds large group meeting rooms and exhibit space with a number of permanent exhibits reflecting Rockford's history and culture. Special events throughout the year include a World War II re-enatment, Sock Monkey and Scarecrow Harvest Festivals, and more. Free recreational path located on property.